The Spy Who Loved Manitoba The James Bond story starts here

James Bond is known for his exploits to Mexico City, Austria and Morocco. But perhaps a mission to Winnipeg, Manitoba is most fitting for the British hero, or at least his fans.

The truth is: without Winnipeg there would be no James Bond. The inspiration behind the suave fictional spy was William Stephenson, a real-life secret agent and friend of creator Ian Fleming. Stephenson was born in 1897 in Winnipeg and journeyed from working-class roots to a world of international spy craft, becoming an adviser to President Roosevelt and confidante of Prime Minister Churchill. Fleming would write in The Sunday Times in 1962 that Bond was:

“A highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing, the man who became one of the great agents of the [Second World War] is William Stephenson.”

Should film executives entertain the idea of bringing Bond back to his roots for the 25th installment, here are Manitoba experiences most appropriate for the iconic 007 plot points:

Romantic rendezvous

Skin. Steam. Relaxation. Bond unwinds after an action sequence at Winnipeg’s new Nordic spa experience Thermëa. He locks eyes with Bond girl, Ivana Winter, in the hazy vaporo sauna. He follows her outdoors, where she plunges into the icy polarbër bath. He offers her a bathrobe and leads her to a chaise in the relaxa pavilion.

Introspective moment

Fans have noted that the modern Bond is comparatively more broody and serious. In Winnipeg, our hero pauses to reflect on his journey while staring at a bronze statue of Sir William Stephenson. The memorial—donated to the city by the Intrepid Society—is located on a patch of grass surrounded by the bustle of downtown, overlooking our Legislative Building.

There are no gigantic karst mountains or crowded streetscapes, but Manitoba’s tundra-flanked coastline, architectural marvels and cultural cornerstones are intriguing locations to lure Bond and his fans. Visitors will be stirred, not shaken.

I consider myself a traveller first, then a writer. So being a communications specialist on the media relations team at Travel Manitoba is a perfect fit. I never tire of yarning tales about my home province. Contact me jrecks@travelmanitoba.com or @TravelMBMedia.